President Barack Obama has called on Congress to extend benefits for the long-term unemployed before they expire at the end of the year.

In his weekly radio and internet address, delivered on Saturday, Obama said more than one million Americans will lose benefits if lawmakers do not act. He said unemployment insurance was one of the most effective ways to boost the economy and added that providing benefits does not stop people from trying to find work.

In the weekly Republican reply, the GOP stuck to its recent policy of attacking Obama's signature healthcare reform, the Affordable Care Act, which has endured a troubled rollout over the last two months. Obama this week recalled a former top aide to help coordinate policy on the healthcare law.

In his address, Obama said: "The holiday season is a time for remembering the bonds we share, and our obligations to one another as human beings. But right now, more than one million of our fellow Americans are poised to lose a vital economic lifeline just a few days after Christmas if Congress doesn't do something about it.

Obama added: "If members of Congress don't act before they leave on their vacations, 1.3 million Americans will lose this lifeline … they include 20,000 veterans who've served this country with honour.

"If Congress refuses to act, it won't just hurt families already struggling – it will actually harm our economy. Unemployment insurance is one of the most effective ways there is to boost our economy. When people have money to spend on basic necessities, that means more customers for our businesses and, ultimately, more jobs. And the evidence shows that unemployment insurance doesn't stop people from trying hard to find work.

"Just this week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicted that allowing benefits to expire will be a drag on our economic growth next year. A report by the Department of Labour and my Council of Economic Advisers estimated that it could cost businesses 240,000 jobs.

"So extending unemployment insurance isn't just the right thing to do for our families – it's the smart thing to do for our economy. And it shouldn't be a partisan issue. For decades, Congress has voted to offer relief to job-seekers – including when the unemployment rate was lower than it is today.

"But now that economic lifeline is in jeopardy. All because Republicans in this Congress – which is on track to be the most unproductive in history – have so far refused to extend it."

The House Speaker, John Boehner, has said he is willing to consider extending the jobless benefits.

In the weekly Republican address, the North Carolina representative Renee Ellmers called on the president to delay his healthcare law's requirement that all Americans purchase insurance. She said the law was particularly affecting women, who often make healthcare choices for their families.

Obama is bringing a former top aide with deep ties to Congress back to the White House to help get his health care overhaul back on track after a bungled rollout.

Officials say Phil Schiliro, who as Obama's top liaison to Capitol Hill helped push the Affordable Care Act through Congress, is taking on a short-term assignment to help coordinate policy surrounding the law. The news was first reported by the New York Times on Friday.

He will work with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services, other agencies and members of Congress.

Schiliro left the White House about two years ago and moved to New Mexico, where he opened a business consulting for nonprofits.